Liverpool FC Europa League draw: All you need to know about Rubin Kazan, Bordeaux and FC Sion

BORDEAUX, FRANCE - OCTOBER 18: Julien Faubert of Bordeaux evades John Arne Riise of Liverpool during the UEFA Champions League Group C match between Bordeaux and Liverpool at the Jacques Chaban Delmas stadium on October 18, 2006 in Bordeaux, France. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)

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RUBIN KAZAN:

Who are they? Russian Premier League mainstays who won back-to-back titles in the late 2000s. Rose to fame with a 2-1 win over Barcelona in Camp Nou in the 2009-10 season. Finished sixth last season.

Miles to Kazan: 2,524.

Stadium: Kazan Arena (capacity: 45,105)

Current manager: Rinat Bilyalentdinov. Father of former Everton winger Diniyar, who also plays for the club. He's entering his second season there.

Last meeting: Liverpool have never met Rubin Kazan in competitive football.

Star player: Carlos Eduardo. A Brazilian in Russia is a bit of a cliché now, but the 28-year-old has had five seasons at Rubin Kazan, interrupted by a two-year stint at Flamengo. Cultured midfielder.

It's a good draw because... Kazan are not at the level they once were and represent one of the easier draws from the top seeds.

It's a bad draw because... It's a lot of travel, for both the team and the fans.

BORDEAUX:

Who are they? French club who have established themselves in the top half of Ligue 1 for several seasons. Last won the league in 2009.

Miles to Bordeaux: 869.

Stadium: Nouveau Stade de Bordeaux (capacity: 42,115)

Current manager: Willy Sagnol. Most famed for his spell at Bayern Munich, where he won the Champions League the French right back led Bordeaux to sixth in his first season in charge.

Last meeting: Liverpool met Bordeaux in 2006, in the Champions League group stage. The Reds won 1-0 away and 3-0 at home.

Star player: Diego Rolan. Young Uruguayan, who was part of his country's Copa America squad this summer, bagged 15 goals in 36 appearances last season.

It's a good draw because... Bordeaux are not the side they once were and have a squad of decent, but inconsistent, players. Just nudged past Kairat Almaty of Kazakhstan in the play-off. Also gets Liverpool to a brand new stadium, with the club moving from Stade Chaban-Delmas this summer.

It's a bad draw because... They can be tricky on their day, having beaten Monaco, PSG and Marseille at home last season.

FC SION:

Who are they? Swiss side who enjoyed some success in the 1990s, winning two titles. They were most recently in the headlines for signing Gennaro Gattuso and Kyle Lafferty on free transfers in 2012. Won the Swiss Cup last season, hence their qualification for the Europa League.

Miles to Sion: 862.

Stadium: Stade Tourbillon (capacity: 14,500)

Current manager: Didier Tholot. Journeyman striker as a player – with one stop, amusingly, at Walsall. He's now in his third spell as Sion manager, joining most recently from Bastia, where he served as assistant manager.

Last meeting: Liverpool met them in the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup in the 1995-96 season, winning 2-1 away, before an entertaining 6-3 win at Anfield on Halloween.

Star player: Reto Ziegler. Included on the basis he's one of two recognisable players in the squad, alongside former Fulham man Elsad Zverotic. Ziegler, capped by Switzerland 35 times, has been left back for Spurs, Wigan, Juventus, Sampdoria and Fenerbahce.

It's a good draw because... Sion are pretty much unknowns in Europe, and seem to represent a kind draw for Brendan Rodgers' side.

It's a bad draw because... Sion are pretty much unknowns in Europe, and seem to represent a kind draw for Brendan Rodgers' side.